I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

I have so many words for this book, and yet none at all. All I can think is… woah. I Who Have Never Known Men is speculative literature at its finest. This book made me think on so many different levels. I found myself having to put it down at points and really contemplate life and its meaning. That is the mark of a VERY good book. Throughout the novel, I truly had no idea what was going on. Yet somehow, that was okay. It added an element of suspense and wonder to the book that I haven’t found in any other novel. To say this book is unique is an understatement.

While this book is inherently feminist and forces us to consider the role men play in our lives, there really was no interaction with men at all. It makes us ponder the question that is ever-so-prominent in today’s society: What would the world be like if there were no men? There would certainly be far less danger, which is pointed out heavily in this book, in not so many words.

The setting and world-building were like a fever dream. I couldn’t stand to walk away, and yet I had to for my own sanity. This is one of those books that you need to step away from for a second and go, “What the heck am I reading?!” The characters were also developed in a way that makes you feel for all of them, even the characters we barely read about. This is very telling of one of the themes of the book, in my opinion. When we have no knowledge of what our lives are supposed to look like, how do we live? Additionally, what makes our lives meaningful? Is it our interaction with community, a pursuit of knowledge, progress, etc.?

Overall, this is a five-star read for me. I give kudos to Jacqueline Harpman for her ability to capture the themes of this novel in such an artistic manner. 10/10 would recommend!